The Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara has claimed to have broken his own world record for the largest wave ever surfed when he caught a wave reported to be around 100ft off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal.

McNamara, who was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts but whose family moved to Hawaii's North Shore when he was aged 11, was accompanied by fellow big-wave surfers Andrew Cotton and Alastair Mennie and Mennie revealed that the conditions were "perfect" for McNamara who he described as "inspiring".

"Everything was perfect, the weather, the waves," Mennie said. "Cotty and I surfed two big waves of about 60 feet and then, when Garrett was ready came a canyon wave of over 90 feet. The jet ski was the best place to see him riding the biggest wave I've ever seen. It was amazing. Most people would be scared but Garrett was controlling everything in the critical part of the wave. It was an inspiring ride by an inspiring surfer."

If McNamara's claims are verified, it will mean that he has beaten his previous record, which was also set at Nazaré, by 10ft.